illicit

[ih-lis-it]

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adjective

not legally permitted or authorized; unlicensed; unlawful.
disapproved of or not permitted for moral or ethical reasons.

Origin of illicit

From the Latin word illicitus, dating back to 1645–55. See il-², licit

Related formsil·lic·it·ly, adverbil·lic·it·ness, noun

Can be confusedelicit illicitillegal illicit (see synonym study at illegal)

Synonyms for illicit

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1. illegitimate, prohibited. See illegal.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words for illicitness

wrong, immorality, lawlessness, illegitimacy

British Dictionary definitions for illicitness

illicit

adjective

another word for illegal
not allowed or approved by common custom, rule, or standardillicit sexual relations

Derived Formsillicitly, adverbillicitness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for illicitness

illicit

adj.

c.1500, from Old French illicite (14c.) "unlawful, forbidden," from Latin illicitus "not allowed, unlawful, illegal," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + licitus "lawful," past participle of licere "to be allowed" (see licence). Related: Illicitly.